Alleged high ranking NPA official killed in encounter with military in Camarines Sur

June 29, 2019

Two armed men, including an alleged high ranking official of New People’s Army (NPA), were killed in an encounter with government forces in Camarines Sur on Friday.

Major Ricky Anthony Aguilar, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division, said slain were Norberto Balcueva alias Obet, 50, and Salvador Remoto, 46,.

“It was learned that Balcueva was one of the high ranking officials of the communist terrorist group in the 4th district of Camarines Sur,” he said.

Aguilar said the clash happened in the vicinity of Sitio Mauban, Barangay Mampirao, Caramoan around 5:15 am.

Based on initial report, troops were conducting combat operation in response to the reported presence of an armed group in the area when they encountered around 20 rebels.

The fire fight that lasted an hour and half resulted in the killing of two rebels and recovery of war materiel while no one was hurt among government troops.

Aguilar said after the gun battle, government forces recovered “four M-16 rifles, one Galil rifle, one M-79 grenade launcher, five anti-personnel mines and other subversive documents at the encounter site.”

“Col. Rommel Tello, brigade commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade of 9th Infantry Division, said the operations they conduct are in line with the government’s peace campaign which Filipinos have been longing for,” said Aguilar.

“They are fed with the hazards and dangers posed by communist terrorists’ (CTs) extortion and intimidation which prompted them to report to us the presence of the CTs,” Tello said Robina Asido/DMS